Laguna Beach house seamlessly blends art, architecture

Along the back of the house, the roofline follows an S curve. Honed limestone flooring stretches throughout the home to the edge of the saltwater pool, which is trimmed in black granite.

Along the back of the house, the roofline follows an S curve. Honed limestone flooring stretches throughout the home to the edge of the saltwater pool, which is trimmed in black granite. (Lee Manning)

Scott Marshutz

Art and architecture blend seamlessly in this contemporary Laguna Beach home in the private community of Irvine Cove.

A heavily detailed three-quarter-inch layer of French limestone encloses the steel-framed structure, creating the illusion that it's one, monolithic column of limestone.

On both sides of the main entry, curved glass panels are accented with rivets. A bridge leading from the entrance to the great room crosses over the atrium.

Inside the gallery-styled great room, an art wall features a sculptured circular black brick fireplace with stainless steel trim.

"Every element of the house is done very artfully," says Newport Beach architect Christian Light. "My clients were interested in making sure it wasn't going to be just another rectilinear home."

Adjacent to the kitchen and morning room, a Lolli e Memmoli crystal chandelier hanging over the dining table is another example of a fixture that doubles as a piece of art.

Five columns were strategically placed to support the 9-foot ceiling that vaults to 12 feet for unobstructed panoramic ocean views.

Honed limestone flooring -- nearly 5,000 square feet -- stretches to the edge of the saltwater pool, which is trimmed in black granite.

The great room and pool patio area are separated by mahogany-framed doors that open to create an indoor-outdoor living space.

The ceiling of the main floor is a 1,500-square-foot skylight that covers the entry, great room, art wall and atrium. It links the front of the house to the back master bedroom and entertainment spaces.

The subterranean level has a large open media room, office/studio, guest suite, spa area and wine cellar.

To submit a candidate for Home of the Week, send high-resolution color photos on a CD, caption information, the name of the photographer and a description of the house to Lauren Beale, Business, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A., CA 90012. Questions may be sent to homeoftheweek@latimes.com.